Data-friendly YouTube Go app is available in 130 more countries

Lately, Google has been putting a lot of focus on its lightweight “Go” Android apps that are meant for countries where good cellular coverage and bandwidth in general is difficult to come by. YouTube Go started out in only one country — sure, it was India, but there were still plenty of other places where the app would be useful. As of today, many more countries will be able to use YouTube Go. More than 130, in fact.

If you haven’t heard of YouTube Go before, it offers the key features of YouTube along with a lot of data management options. Users can download videos at three different quality sizes and share them with other phones without using any data at all. It also features previews, so you can check out a video before streaming or downloading it. The app itself is less than 10MB, and Google specifically made it work with slower phones with less storage, and it works on much older versions of Android — all the way back to 4.1 Jellybean, in fact.

In addition to today’s big rollout, the app is getting a few new features. User requests have led to a sharing revamp; you can now share multiple videos at the same time, and the feature will now be feature on the app’s home page to make the process quicker. Google also enabled high-quality streaming for those times when users have bandwidth to burn. The updated app should be rolling out to many more countries today, but unfortunately Google didn’t provide a full list of where it was now available — your best bet is probably just to check the Play Store.

Facebook promoted conspiracy theories surrounding Amtrak crash

On Wednesday, a train carrying House Republicans collided with a truck. The accident left one person dead and another injured. It’s a tragedy, to be sure, and promoting misinformation around the event is incredibly unhelpful. Which is why it’s so frustrating that Facebook is apparently up to its old tricks; the social network promoted stories in the “People are Saying” section of “Trending News” that were full of conspiracy theories and misinformation, including that Hillary Clinton ordered the crash. The Daily Beast first reported on the issue.

A Facebook spokesperson told Engadget, “Trending includes a separate section of people’s individual posts related to the news event; it’s essentially a comments section. We built this as a way for you to easily see what others are saying around a topic. The type of stuff we were seeing yesterday is a bad experience and we’re going to work to fix the product.” It’s great that Facebook recognizes there’s an issue and will work to correct it. The problem, of course, is haven’t they been doing that for the last couple of years?

The fact is this really should not be happening anymore. Sure, a few stories will fall through the cracks — it’s a big platform after all — but Facebook should have a better handle on the problem by now. Trending news is not a comments section. Facebook comments are a comments section.

That’s not to say solving the fake news problem is easy or simple. The fight is constant, and some have posited that it’s a war that is, in fact, unwinnable. Google took steps earlier this week to clean fake news out of its search “snippets” and Facebook has revamped its News Feed to focus less on articles and more on friend and family updates (though this might actually exacerbate the problem). But if people keep themselves informed about world events through Facebook, and there is misinformation in the Trending News section, that’s a huge problem. And it’s not clear if Facebook is ever going to fix it.

Via: Vanity Fair

Source: The Daily Beast

Google backs a single stylus for all your devices

The Universal Stylus Initiative has found a powerful new ally in Google. Mountain View has officially joined the project’s top-tier backers, which include Intel and Lenovo, giving it the power to participate in USI’s development of an open active stylus standard and to approve its final specifications. A USI stylus will work with any device designed to adopt the standard — you don’t need to configure or to set it up beforehand to be able to use it, and it even remembers your settings even if you switch devices.

USI’s technology works by using a two-way (stylus-to-device and vice-versa) communication mechanism, which can command the stylus to switch to a less noisy frequency to prevent interference. The mechanism also allows preferences (like ink color and style) to be stored in the stylus itself and makes it possible for compatible devices to be able to recognize multiple stylus input. Want to collaborate on a drawing with a friend? The tech will enable you to draw together at the same time.

The fact that Google joined the project likely means future touchscreen Chromebooks and maybe even Pixel devices will support the USI standard. If that’s the case, you’ll be able to use one digital pen not only for multiple Google devices, but also for those made by Dell, Wacom and USI’s other members, in the future.

Source: Universal Stylus Initiative

Uber, Lyft and others pledge to improve urban transportation

With the rise of ride-sharing, alternative fuels and ongoing developments in autonomous vehicle technology, transportation is in the midst of a rather drastic transformation, and how we get around in the not too distant future is likely to be very different than how we get around today. But with so many companies working towards a new transportation future, things could get a little messy. To address that concern, over a dozen companies have now committed to 10 Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, a pledge initiated by Zipcar cofounder Robin Chase.

Among the signatories are Lyft, LimeBike, Uber, Zipcar, Ofo, Mobike and Ola and the Shared Mobility Principles website says, “The future of mobility in cities is multimodal and integrated. When vehicles are used, they should be right-sized, shared, and zero emission.” The principles include some expected goals like promoting equity, engaging with stakeholders and transitioning towards renewable energy. But others paint a collaborative picture that may come as a bit of a surprise. The tenth principle, for example, states, “We support that autonomous vehicles in dense urban areas should be operated only in shared fleets. Shared fleets can provide more affordable access to all, maximize public safety and emissions benefits, ensure that maintenance and software upgrades are managed by professionals, and actualize the promise of reductions in vehicles, parking, and congestion, in line with broader policy trends to reduce the use of personal cars in dense urban areas.”

During a press call yesterday, Joseph Okpaku, Lyft’s vice president of government relations said, “We definitely do envision a future where the vast majority of autonomous vehicle rides will be done as part of a shared network. We think that’s the best way to realize all of the benefits that an autonomous future can bring in terms of rebuilding our cities.” Other principles include goals involving open data, fair user fees, prioritizing people over vehicles and planning cities and transportation alongside each other.

“Transportation is really a gateway to opportunity and cities really have to be places where you want to live, work, and play,” said Chase. “These companies have taken an incredibly bold step by supporting these principles.”

Via: VentureBeat

Source: Shared Mobility Principles

India rejects cryptocurrency, but it isn’t giving up on blockchain

India officially will not treat cryptocurrencies as legal tender and will try to stop their use in payments, according to a Bloomberg report. This isn’t unexpected, given how the country sent tens of thousands of tax notices out after realizing virtual currencies are making $315 million worth of trade per month. While India has finally come out against cryptocurrencies, after repeated warnings that they were “Ponzi schemes,” the government will continue exploring the blockchain’s potential for the future digital economy.

This comes a day after South Korea ultimately decided to regulate, not ban cryptocurrencies, despite its government sharing India’s concern about tax evasion and the subsequent disruption of global trade. Beyond skirting state revenue collection, both countries have logical worries about the safety of cryptocurrency, given how a hacker stole over $500 million from the Tokyo-based exchange Coincheck last week.

Source: Bloomberg

‘Bridge Constructor Portal’ Launches on Mac App Store for $9.99

Headup Games today announced that its Portal spin-off game “Bridge Constructor Portal” is now officially available for players to buy on the Mac App Store for $9.99 [Direct Link]. The game first launched on December 20 on the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Steam.

The Mac App Store version of the game is priced to match the other $9.99 desktop version on Steam, coming in at $5 more than the iPhone/iPad app’s $4.99 price tag [Direct Link].

Bridge Constructor Portal is a fusion of the Bridge Constructor and Portal franchises, tasking players with building bridges to connect pathways in order to safely traverse large pits and avoid falling to their death. These puzzles are blended with Portal’s Aperture Laboratories setting, items, and characters. Elements from Portal include the companion cube, repulsion and propulsion gels from Portal 2, and GLaDOS’s narration through all of the player’s successes and failures.

As a new employee in the Aperture Science test lab, it’s your job to build bridges, ramps, slides, and other constructions in 60 test chambers and get the Bendies safely across the finish line in their vehicles.

Make use of the many Portal gadgets, like portals, propulsion gel, repulsion gel, aerial faith plates, cubes, and more to bypass the sentry turrets, acid pools and laser barriers, solve switch puzzles, and make it through the test chambers unscathed.

Now that the game is available across mobile and desktop devices, Headup Games, ClockStone Software, and Valve are looking toward its release on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One “very soon.” You can visit the Mac App Store today to download Bridge Constructor Portal [Direct Link], and it can also be downloaded for Apple computers through Steam.

Tag: Valve
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Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Models in United States, Starting at $499

Apple today has added refurbished iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models to its online store for the first time in the United States.

iPhone 7 models are available in all three storage capacities, including 32GB for $499, 128GB for $589, and 256GB for $679, reflecting savings of 10 percent off Apple’s current prices for brand new models. All five colors are currently in stock, including Black, Jet Black, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold.

iPhone 7 Plus models with 32GB or 128GB of storage are available for $599 and $689 respectively, which is also 10 percent off. There are no 256GB models in stock. Available colors include Black, Gold, and Rose Gold.

Apple says all refurbished iPhone models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new white box and all manuals and accessories. Apple also installs a new battery and replaces the outer shell, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a refurbished and brand new iPhone.

Any refurbished iPhone model comes with Apple’s standard one-year warranty effective on the date the device is delivered. The warranty can be extended to up to two years from the original purchase date with AppleCare+, at a cost of $129 for the iPhone 7 and $149 for the iPhone 7 Plus in the United States.

All in all, customers can save somewhere between $50 and $80 on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus this way. Those looking for an even better deal, and who are okay with a little wear and tear, may wish to consider Virgin Mobile’s pre-loved iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models, which start at $299 and $349 respectively.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7Tag: refurbishedBuyer’s Guide: iPhone 8 (Neutral)
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Instagram Launches New Type Mode for Stories

Instagram today announced the launch of a new “Type” mode in stories, a feature that the company was previously testing with a small number of users.

Type mode is designed to allow Instagram users to share text-only posts in Instagram Stories, and the feature is similar in design to the Facebook option that lets you accentuate text-only posts with large fonts and colorful backgrounds.

According to Instagram, Type uses creative text styles and backgrounds to allow users to turn their “most random thoughts into something colorful and expressive.”

Type mode can be accessed by opening up the Instagram Stories camera and selecting “Type” next to normal under the record button.

Tap “Type” and write whatever comes to mind — your favorite lyrics, a silly thought or a random idea — and play with different styles to change the look and feel. Then, you can pick different background colors, highlight words and phrases or add a background photo.

The new styles introduced with the Type feature can also be used when adding text to any photo or video, and as with all Stories posts, content will disappear after 24 hours.

Type content is part of Instagram version 30 for iOS, which can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Instagram
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Ticwatch E review update: back in black

A little while back, we reviewed the Ticwatch E and S, two of the most affordable Android Wear devices around. For $159, the more affordable Ticwatch E suffered a rather unfortunate setback though — for what seemed like no reason, the watch bugged out and the screen began flickering with the bottom portion flashing white. Though only our unit (to our knowledge) exhibited this behavior, we still took it as a small cautionary tale.

Review

Ticwatch S and E review: Affordable Android Wear

Smartwatches are still a bit of a tough category; there are so many in the market now, but it’s hard to say that they have really penetrated the lives of the masses. Android Wear opened …

Instead, our review focused on the $199 Ticwatch S, which was undoubtedly the sportier of the two. With a bright neon green-yellow color, it definitely didn’t blend in with many outfits.

All things considered though, the core functions of the Android Wear experience were there — even down to things like GPS and heart rate monitoring. We just had to deal with the look of the S, while the more stylish and more accessible matte black Ticwatch E had to sit that review out.

We reached out to Mobvoi and they replaced the Ticwatch E, which I then used for the week after CES. I have to admit — while I might not be the biggest proponent of fully touchscreen smartwatches anymore, the E is probably the best entry point for anyone looking to dip their toes in the Android Wear ocean.

The Ticwatch E is probably the best entry point for anyone looking to dip their toes in the Android Wear ocean

We already made the assertion in the full review that design matters in the case of S vs E. Despite knowing the Ticwatch S was plenty capable, the look and feel left a lot to be desired. That is mostly remedied by the Ticwatch E — our unit is a matte black body with a black silicone band that will not get dirty under normal wear and tear like our S unit did. Though scuffs and dents might occur over time on this completely plastic body, at least they will not be glaring flaws on the black finish.

Where the Ticwatch S, as David Imel put it in the full review, screams “I WORK OUT” to just about everyone, the E is more subtle. It worked with pretty much any wardrobe, even those that were more fitness oriented. It isn’t like you’re missing out on much in the fitness realm either — Mobvoi’s app for tracking fitness is nice and rather Apple-esque, though most users probably have their own fitness ecosystems they prefer to install via the Android Wear Play Store.

I made an effort to use the watch for my current obsession: sleep tracking. My favorite Android sleep app, Sleep as Android, works perfectly with this watch but takes up a lot of the battery life when monitoring sleep with continuous heart rate readings. On average, I lost about 50 percent overnight, though I got detailed graphs of my sleep in the app. Battery life from the 350 mAh hasn’t changed — it will barely make it to a day and a half when regularly taking in notifications. For my sleep tracking to work, I had to make sure to charge it up before I went to bed. If I wanted to comfortably get through the following day then it required a recharge in the morning too.

The sleeping example reminded me one of the reasons why Android Wear can be an asset. Its look and operation is due for a complete overhaul, but with the right tools and apps the wrist-mounted OS can be incredibly useful.

There are also other better looking versions of the Ticwatch E than this matted black on black. If you are trying to go for a specific look, there are choices for around the same cheap price. But this black edition is one I can recommend to anyone trying to get into smartwatches that doesn’t want anything too big or bulky or flashy. Our review scores and thoughts remain the same, but at least we were able to get the full experience with the Ticwatch E this time.

Here’s the bottom line: if you are looking for a starter smartwatch and don’t mind Android Wear or that the build quality may one day reflect the price, the Ticwatch E is a compelling offering.

Now, let’s get cracking on that Ticwatch 3.

buy ticwatch e from amazon

Nuro wants to make pizza delivery guys a thing of the past

For decades, ever since the “horseless carriage” came to fruition, engineers and scientists alike have dreamt of a future filled with self-driving vehicles. And in an age where traffic fatalities, particularly ones caused by inebriated or incompetent drivers, are still a rampant, risk, autonomous vehicles are perceived as the solution to eliminating such problems.

But like all new technologies, many if not all need to endure growing pains and there are a lot of considerations that need to be accounted for since autonomous vehicles require some big-time changes. This is why autonomous vehicles aren’t quite yet readily available. But these growing pains are the perfect times for experimentation and they clearly haven’t stopped two ex-Google engineers, Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, from developing their own self-driving car.

Ferguson and Zhu founded a new startup called Nuro, a company that seeks to reinvent the idea of the self-driving car, even though the self-driving car doesn’t quite exist just yet. While self-driving cars are looking to take over the taxi, livery, and trucking industries, Nuro is aiming to produce self-driving cars for last-mile delivery services. Meet its latest concoction, the unofficially named, “R1 prototype.”

Nuro

This means Nuro’s vehicles are specifically being developed to take on the roles of delivery drivers. Yup, Nuro appears to want to make pizza delivery guys and Seamless couriers a thing of the past, all in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and the number of people on the road, which in theory could reduce the total number of traffic accidents.

With services such as Seamless or even Amazon Same-Day-Delivery increasing by demand, this means the number of couriers needed to cater to said demand will likely increase. So far, a study by marketing firm McKinsey discovered that the market for “last-mile delivery services” was last valued at over $86 billion, with huge year-over-year growth rates.

Speaking of which, Amazon sees so much potential in the last-mile-delivery service industry, they are not only working with drones. More recently, Amazon recently filed a patent for an “autonomous ground vehicle,” suggesting their rumors of self-driving robots are reigning true. On the other side, last August, Ford announced its partnership with Domino’s, collaborating on pizza deliveries using self-driving cars.

So Nuro isn’t alone with its vision. But they’re also not resorting to a collaboration with a pre-existing automaker, such as Uber’s self-driving Volvo fleet, Lexus’ and Toyota’s fleet of self-driving testers for Google, or as aforementioned, Ford’s new fleet with Domino’s.

“Local commerce is the first application. The vehicle will transport goods between and among businesses, homes, and neighborhoods,” Nuro spokesperson Emma Esrock told Digital Trends.

“Particularly, we’re interested in the last mile of transportation. That element contributes to 30 to 50 percent of the total logistics cost of goods transportation. In solving that problem, we realized we could create an entirely new kind of vehicle designed purely for goods transportation and reduce this cost. And, this sort of vehicle could also be created sooner, more efficiently and safer than passenger transportation. Because of its flexible interior, the vehicle can be re-configured and personalized for purpose in that delivery.”

Instead, Nuro is creating its own self-driving car, completely from the ground up. Upon first glance, it doesn’t seem like anything more than a rounded box on wheels. It does have a forward-facing windshield. But behind it is where the R1’s operational equipment lies. And it doesn’t have to be if nobody’s technically going to be driving in it, and thus being seen in it. Instead of a passenger compartment, the car’s interior space can be customized to suit a company’s needs. The interior is then accessible by four gullwing-style doors.

Details about what exactly powers it and how fast it can go aren’t yet available. But according to The Verge, researchers initially wanted the R1 to be small enough to drive on sidewalks. In the end, however, Nuro ultimately decided to make the R1 road-worthy. As it stands, it’s about as tall as a Toyota Highlander (with its antenna support), but about half as wide.

“The unmanned vehicle is custom-designed from the ground up to be safer, nimbler and more efficient than anything on the road. It features lightweight materials, narrow width, custom hardware for redundancy and a breakthrough design to keep what’s outside even safer than what’s inside,” Esrock said.

As of now, the Nuro is about ready to be launched, Esrock said that we should expect to see these in your neighborhood, both “urban and suburban,” shortly.

Nuro Founders, Dave Ferguson (left) and Jiajun Zhu (right).

Editors’ Recommendations

• Ford will power Postmates’ on-demand delivery service with self-driving cars
• Boxy Toyota e-Palette concept is designed to transport both people and pizzas
• Good luck getting out of a ticket with Ford’s A.I.-enabled police car
• Voyage finds the perfect place to test autonomous cars — a retirement village
• Horseless carriages are now driverless, thanks to Waymo’s taxi service